This homemade hot chocolate mix makes a rich, indulgent, chocolaty treat. It is SO easy to make, let me show you how to make it along with 4 flavor variations!

Hot chocolate mix in a glass jar with a metal scoop.

Hot Chocolate Mix Variations:

This recipe is a fabulous base for flavored hot chocolate mixes. To make different flavored hot chocolate mixes, follow the base recipe and add the additional ingredients below just before processing.

  • ORANGE: add 1 Tablespoon of orange zest.
  • MINT: omit the vanilla and use 1 teaspoon of mint extract instead.
  • MALTED: omit the nonfat dry milk powder and use 1/2 cup of malted milk powder instead.
  • MEXICAN: add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 3/4 teaspoon ancho chile powder.

Hot chocolate mix in a glass jar with a cup of hot chocolate and a bowl of marshmallows in the background.

Cook’s Note – Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

  • Use the best quality chocolate that you can afford. High-quality chocolate enhances the quality and intensity of the hot chocolate.
  • I used all Ghirardelli chocolate products for this homemade mix recipe.
  • This mix will keep, in an air-tight container at room temperature, for up to 2 months.
  • This recipe will make 3 cups of the mix with is enough for 12 1-cup servings.
  • While this recipe can be doubled, tripled, etc it may not all fit in your food processor. I recommend processing one batch at a time. After all, it only takes a minute to make each batch!

Cook’s Tools:

  • food processor
  • airtight glass storage jar
  • small saucepan

More Homemade Gifts for the Holidays:

I love giving homemade food gifts to neighbors and friends for Christmas. This mix is a great option, and sometimes I give a few of my Hanging Gingerbread Cookies that hang off of the side of a hot chocolate mug. These Gingerbread Truffles are always a welcomed gift (I have friends who ask for the specifically at Christmas time) as well as my sister-in-law Beth’s Totally Addicting Peanut Brittle. Lastly, these Dip Mix Ornaments are genius! They’re easy to make and so pretty, too! 

This homemade hot chocolate mix makes a rich, indulgent, chocolaty treat. It is SO easy to make, let me show you how!
4.50 from 2 votes

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Author Cook's Illustrated
Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes
12 people
This homemade hot chocolate mix makes a rich, indulgent, chocolaty treat. It is SO easy to make, let me show you how!

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped fine
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup nonfat dry milk powder
  • 5 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a food processor. Process until the mixture is ground to powder, about 30-60 seconds. Transfer mix to and airtight container.

Notes

This recipe makes 3 cups of mix. 
To make 1 Serving of Hot Chocolate: heat 1 cup of milk (whole, 1% or 2%) in a small saucepan over medium heat until it starts to steam and bubbles form around the edge of saucepan. Add a ¼ cup of hot chocolate mix and continue to heat, whisking constantly, until it just begins to simmer, 2-3 minutes longer. Pour into a mug and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 323mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 3.5mg

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Source: recipe from my favorite cooking periodical, Cook’s Illustrated.

Picture collage of hot chocolate mix for Pinterest.

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4 Comments

  1. I tried making this nearly sugar free with 1/4 tsp stevia extract powder instead of the sugar (replaced volume with powdered milk) and using mostly 72% dark chocolate for the chocolate.

    Drank a cup: Not bitter, but not sweet enough to enhance the chocolate flavor either. Will try adding a couple of Tbls of sugar to the mix.

    Added 2 Tbls + 1 tsp

    Drank a cup: Much better, less “dirt” tasting due to the added sugar.

    Added 2 tsp, will call it good.

    1. Rachel, thanks for sharing this almost sugar-free adaptation! I know it will be useful to others. 🙂

  2. Does it have to be warm milk? Can you make this with hot water?

    1. Hot water will work, too!